Changing together

In recent decades, a complex array of initiatives linked to the "civil economy" has emerged in Italy...

CICSENE (Italian Center for Cooperation on Housing Development in Emerging Nations)—a local development and cooperation organization established in 1972 to seek new solutions to the complex issues of housing and social living environments—has attempted to define the groups vulnerable to housing insecurity; however, this list seems equally applicable to defining vulnerability in general. Naturally, the identified categories may range from situations bordering on economic poverty to those closer to standard market conditions.
It would be a mistake to treat these individuals or households simply as "the poor"—a mistake both because it is economically unsustainable and because the most valuable service we can offer is to help them return to a state of normalcy. Regarding access to and retention of housing, various third-sector entities have successfully pioneered "housing support" (*accompagnamento abitativo*) in recent years. This is an interactive process aimed at ensuring a full understanding of information and mediating complex situations, primarily by fostering interpersonal skills and building trust between the parties involved. In CICSENE’s case, a guaranteed rent insurance policy was also introduced, contingent upon the provision of this housing support.
Housing support is the kind of service that facilitates interpersonal relationships, builds community trust, and entails low financial costs—characteristics rooted not in the market economy, but in the civil economy.

The civil economy as an alternative paradigm. In recent decades, a complex array of initiatives linked to the civil economy has emerged in Italy: social cooperatives, benefit corporations, associations, foundations, solidarity economy networks, responsible purchasing groups, and non-profit organizations that place the individual, the community, and the common good at the center of their activities.
Unlike the traditional market economy, the civil economy is founded on principles of reciprocity, solidarity, and sustainable development. However, its growing diversity necessitates coordination among the various actors so that they can adopt a shared governance model capable of strengthening their coherence and impact. Italy is considered a living laboratory for the civil economy, thanks to historical traditions such as cooperativism, mutualism, and volunteerism.
However, this very richness risks turning into fragmentation: each network or organization tends to operate within its own specific sphere. Many local initiatives—however extraordinary—fail to communicate with one another or to present a unified voice in public policy or at national decision-making tables. Consequently, the lack of shared governance limits the sector's ability to influence the country's economic and social choices.

The benefits of common governance. Adopting common governance means defining shared values, mechanisms for participation and coordination, and systems for collective representation. The benefits would be manifold: a) a greater capacity to engage with public institutions through unified representation; b) coordinated strategies to tackle shared challenges (ecological transition, social inclusion, social innovation); c) the sharing of best practices and resources (training, ethical finance, digital platforms); and d) increased social impact, driven by synergies among the various actors.
Common governance does not equate to bureaucratic uniformity; rather, it entails creating horizontal, participatory networks that respect local and organizational specificities.
Towards a new pact for the common good. Adopting common governance within the Italian civil economy represents not merely an organizational step, but a cultural leap: recognizing that today’s complexities demand cooperation, not competition.
Only by networking civil and social energies can Italy consolidate a development model capable of reconciling economic efficiency, social justice, and environmental sustainability.
In this sense, common governance becomes the key to transforming the civil economy from a "galaxy of initiatives" into a cohesive system for change.

Gianfranco Cattai
Focus
NP March 2026